How to Use iStonsoft iPad iPod iPhone Data Recovery — Step‑by‑Step GuideLosing important photos, messages, contacts, or notes from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod can be stressful. iStonsoft iPad iPod iPhone Data Recovery is a desktop tool designed to help you recover lost or deleted data from iOS devices, iTunes backups, and iCloud backups. This step‑by‑step guide walks you through preparing, using, and verifying recovery with practical tips to improve your chances of success.
What this guide covers
- Preparing your device and computer
- Installing iStonsoft Data Recovery and connecting your device
- Recovering directly from an iOS device
- Recovering from an iTunes backup
- Recovering from an iCloud backup
- Verifying and exporting recovered data
- Troubleshooting common issues and best practices
Before you begin — preparation checklist
- Use a computer (Windows or macOS) that meets the software’s minimum requirements.
- Install the latest version of iTunes if you plan to recover from an iOS device or an iTunes backup (Windows users especially).
- Ensure your iPhone/iPad/iPod has enough battery (over 50% recommended) or keep it connected to power.
- If possible, stop using the device after data loss to avoid overwriting files you want to recover.
- Have your Apple ID and password ready if you’ll access iCloud backups.
Installing iStonsoft iPad iPod iPhone Data Recovery
- Download the installer from the official iStonsoft website (or the trusted vendor/distributor you prefer).
- Run the installer and follow on‑screen prompts to complete installation. On Windows, allow the program through your firewall if prompted.
- Launch the application. The main interface usually presents three recovery modes: Recover from iOS Device, Recover from iTunes Backup, and Recover from iCloud Backup.
Recovering directly from an iOS device
Use this mode when your device is accessible and can be recognized by the computer.
- Connect your iPhone/iPad/iPod to the computer using a USB cable. Prefer the original cable or a high‑quality alternative.
- If prompted on the device, tap Trust to allow the computer to access it.
- In iStonsoft, choose Recover from iOS Device. The software will detect your device model and iOS version.
- Click Start Scan (or similarly labeled button). The tool will scan the device’s storage for deleted and existing data. The duration depends on storage size and data volume.
- When the scan completes, items will be grouped by category: Contacts, Messages, Call History, Photos, Videos, Notes, WhatsApp, etc.
- Preview items by category. Use filters or the search box (if provided) to locate specific files.
- Select the items you want to recover. For bulk recovery, use the “Select All” option for a category.
- Click Recover (or Export) and choose a folder on your computer to save recovered files. Many apps export contacts as VCF, messages as HTML or CSV, and photos/videos in their original format.
Tips:
- Preview before recovering to avoid exporting large amounts of unnecessary data.
- If the device isn’t detected, try a different USB port, restart the device and computer, or update iTunes/driver software.
Recovering from an iTunes backup
Use this mode if you routinely back up your device to iTunes and still have relevant backups on the computer.
- Open iStonsoft and select Recover from iTunes Backup. The program scans for available iTunes backup files on your computer.
- Choose the backup that likely contains the lost data — backups are listed with device name and backup date.
- Click Scan or Start to extract data from the selected backup. This is a read‑only operation and won’t modify the backup.
- After scanning, browse categories and preview items.
- Select what you need and click Recover. Choose a local folder to export recovered files.
Notes:
- If your iTunes backup is encrypted, you must enter the backup password to access its contents.
- If you don’t see recent backups, check iTunes’ backup location or allow the program to scan common backup directories.
Recovering from an iCloud backup
Use this when you’ve been using iCloud backups and the data you need is stored there.
- Select Recover from iCloud Backup in iStonsoft. You’ll be prompted to sign in to your Apple ID. Enter your Apple ID and password. (If two‑factor authentication is enabled, you’ll need to retrieve and enter the verification code from your device.)
- After signing in, the app lists available iCloud backups. Choose the one with the appropriate date.
- Click Download or Scan. The program downloads the backup contents or scans available items in the cloud.
- Preview the extracted items by category.
- Select items and click Recover to save them to your computer.
Privacy note: The app accesses iCloud backups using your Apple ID. Ensure you’re comfortable signing in and consider using a temporary password or disabling two‑factor prompts if needed for a brief period (don’t forget to re‑secure your account).
Verifying and exporting recovered data
- After recovery, open several recovered files to verify integrity (open photos, play videos, load message HTML files, import contacts).
- Organize exported files into folders by category and date to make re‑importing easier.
- To restore contacts to your device, import VCF files into Contacts (macOS) or use iCloud/third‑party tools to sync them back to your iPhone. Messages often export as HTML/CSV and can’t be directly re‑imported into Messages without additional tools.
Troubleshooting common issues
- Device not recognized: update iTunes/drivers, try a different cable/USB port, restart device and computer.
- Scan freezes or crashes: close other applications, restart the computer, ensure enough free disk space for temporary files.
- Encrypted iTunes backup: you must provide the correct password. If forgotten, you can’t access encrypted backup content.
- iCloud sign‑in fails: confirm Apple ID credentials, check two‑factor prompts, ensure network connectivity, and consider temporarily disabling VPNs or firewalls.
- Partial or corrupted recoveries: try re‑scanning the source, or use a different recovery mode (e.g., iTunes backup if device scan failed).
Best practices to improve recovery chances
- Stop using the device immediately after data loss to minimize overwrite risk.
- Back up regularly (iCloud or iTunes) so you have recent restore points.
- Keep the computer and iTunes updated to ensure compatibility.
- Export recovered files to your computer first; avoid saving them back to the same device until you’re certain they’re intact.
- Maintain multiple backups (cloud + local) for critical data.
When recovery might not be possible
- Data overwritten by new files is usually unrecoverable.
- Physical damage to the device’s storage (e.g., water damage, severe hardware failure) may prevent recovery without professional hardware repair.
- Encrypted backups without the password cannot be accessed.
Final notes
iStonsoft iPad iPod iPhone Data Recovery is a useful tool for rescuing many types of lost data from iOS devices and backups. Success depends on whether the lost data has been overwritten and whether backups are available. If basic recovery steps don’t work, consider professional data‑recovery services for hardware issues.
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